University of Calcutta at 2nd spot on India Today Universities Rankings 2013

University of Calcutta at 2nd spot on India Today Universities Rankings 2013

Education with social consciousness is what sets University of Calcutta apart.

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Malini Banerjee

November 30, 1999

ISSUE DATE: June 3, 2013

UPDATED: June 1, 2013 17:16 IST

Vice-Chancellor Suranjan Das with students.

Striving for excellence is a motto many exalted institutes have upheld. But the University of Calcutta has gone a step beyond.

"We believe in striving for excellence, but with principles of equity and justice. The fruits of excellence should be shared with the society at large," says Vice-Chancellor Suranjan Das.

Vice-Chancellor Suranjan Das with students.

Education with a heart is a belief that echoes in the value system of the university students. "Our motto is 'not me but you'," says political science postgraduate student Mousumi Mazumdar, who has been a National Service Scheme (NSS) volunteer with the university for five years. "We are one of the few universities where the University Grants Commission (UGC) has sponsored the establishment of the Babu Jagjivan Ram Chair for social empowerment. This is recognition that the University of Calcutta has been able to transmit knowledge from within the campus and beyond for social betterment," says Das.

NSS volunteers of the university, commonly known as CU, actively organise blood donation and thalassaemia camps as well as cultural activities. They rush to help whenever disaster strikes. "When the shanties near the Ultadanga Railway Colony caught fire on January 26 this year for instance, our volunteers rushed from across the city and suburbs to help," says Arpita Das who was awarded the best NSS volunteer prize in 2012-13. It is for social work like this that the university won a certificate of excellence as part of the Indira Gandhi NSS Award, awarded by President Pranab Mukherjee, says Public Relations Officer Dhrubyojyoti Chattopadhyay.

Another issue close to the VC's heart is that of "addressing the dialectics between science and social science". "If social scientists and scientists come together, then the fruits of technology will show a multiplier effect. This is why at least under social sciences, the university is promoting research on sustainable development," he says.

The science departments are also focusing on science but with a view to doing something for the planet. Alok Sil of the faculty of microbiology, for instance, is engaged in research involving microbes that can break down plastic. Maitreyee Das Gupta, associate professor, Department of Biochemistry has recently been inducted as a fellow in the National Academy of Science for her work in studying the symbiotic relationship of plants and bacteria in nitrogen fixation and how it can be applied to regular plants such as rice and, therefore, eliminate the need for chemical fertilisers.

A new initiative is the establishment of academic cooperation with Oxford University to ensure that technology and science developed within the university can be transferred into innovations. "The aim is to make the University of Calcutta an innovation hub in eastern India which promotes entrepreneurship and commercialisation of research across different disciplines, including social sciences. If collaboration can be developed between scientists and social scientists, we can ensure that the fruits of science and technology are used for the holistic development of society," says Das.

The Union Ministry of External Affairs has sponsored the establishment of the Institute of Foreign Policy Studies at the university. "Through this institute, we hope to use the teaching and learning process to research India's interaction with the outside world," says Das, adding that the thrust would be on providing solutions to policy issues through "soft diplomacy". The institute interacts with the various chambers of commerce to bring investment where it is needed.

The university has an agreement with the Calcutta Stock Exchange to promote awareness about the money market. "In the light of recent scams, awareness on this issue is sorely needed. We're hoping to reach out to MCom students and professors initially and through them to the public," says Malayendu Saha, professor in the Department of Commerce.

Being among the best is not a crown that the university takes lightly. It is acutely aware of the challenges that lie ahead, not the least of which is organising funds. "Sixty-five per cent of the total budget given by UGC goes to central universities, although there are about 40 central universities and about 400 state universities.

From West Bengal alone, two universities are recognised as centres of excellence but even after that, we do not get the same amount of support from the Centre," says Das. That, however, is not the only challenge. A space crunch and "ensuring quantitative as well as qualitative growth" are among the other aspects the university has to contend with.

Taking plants off their fertiliser fix

Maitreyee Das Gupta Department of Biotechnology, CU

Democratic to a fault, Maitreyee Das Gupta, 52, makes it a point to emphasise the achievements of her team of scientists at the Department of Biochemistry's Interdisciplinary Programme In Life Sciences (DBT IPLS)."We have a fantastic team here. The entire milieu of research in this department has changed, thanks to the phenomenal work being done by my colleagues here," says Das Gupta, coordinator for DBT IPLS. Her area of research is "understanding the molecular profile that predisposed legumes to nodulation". Simply put, she's studying what molecules help leguminous plants fix nitrogen. "If a common plant like rice can be conditioned to be friendly with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, then rice cultivation will not be dependent on chemical fertilisers," she says. "I believe our focus should be on keeping everything natural. Fifty per cent of the world's fossil fuels are used up in making fertilisers.We must eliminate the need for such vast amounts of fertilisers," she adds. The gold medallist from the University of Calcutta and Fulbright fellow loves to go on trekking expeditions in her spare time.

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